Florida's Brombacher Named SEC Pitcher of the Week
Monday, February 14, 2011 | Softball
University of Florida senior pitcher Stephanie Brombacher (Pembroke Pines, Fla.) was named the SEC Pitcher of the Week, announced by the league office in Birmingham Monday. Brombacher started her senior season on top, tossing a perfect game over NC State this past weekend as the Gators topped the Wolfpack, 9-0, in five innings Feb. 12.
The senior righty fanned six, using 67 pitches to retire all 15 NC State batters, tallying her second career perfect outing, the last being March 25, 2010, against USF in a 10-0 (5) Gator effort. The game marked the fifth perfect game in Florida history. Current assistant coach Jenny Gladding and UF Hall of Famer Chelsey Sakizzie also tallied perfect games during their Florida tenure; Gladding on Feb. 7, 2004, in a 3-0 victory over Missouri, while Sakizzie pitched two between 1997 and 1998.
Brombacher led UF to the USF Wilson DeMarini Tournament title as the Gators kicked off 2011 undefeated (5-0), marking the first 5-0 start for the Orange and Blue since the 2008 season. Brombacher tallied three wins in the season-opening tournament in Clearwater, versus Marshall (17-1; 5 inn.) Friday, NC State (9-0; 5 inn) Saturday and USF Sunday (12-0; 5 inn.). Friday against the Thundering Herd, Brombacher held Marshall hitless and scoreless in four innings of work, with one walk and four strikeouts before sophomore Ensley Gammel (Bakersfield, Calif.) came on in relief. The duo collaborated for UF's ninth combined one-hitter, the first since Stacey Stevens and Stacey Nelson teamed up for one against Mississippi State April 2, 2006.
Following Brombacher's perfect game Saturday, she returned to the circle Sunday to take on the Bulls, going the full five innings and improving to 3-0 on the season, tallying nine strikeouts and just four hits to shut out USF.
The Gators return to the field Wednesday in Jacksonville for a match-up with the Jacksonville University Dolphins. Game time is slated for 6 p.m. and will be broadcast live on 105 The Game locally. Florida holds the all-time advantage in the history of the series, 8-0, including a 2-0 lead in Jacksonville. Last time out, UF defeated JU 6-1 in Gainesville Feb. 17. DeFelice went 3-for-3 in the game with three homers and three RBI.
2011 UF SEC PLAYER OF THE WEEK AWARDS
2/14/11: Stephanie Brombacher, SEC Pitcher of the Week
